Dear President-Elect Trump:
Your dad gave you Manhattan to develop into your own business while he retained Brooklyn and Queens to continue his. He was smart. He knew the importance of providing opportunities for you to succeed or fail—on your own.
The opportunity to succeed or fail on your own is a fact you recognized. The New York Times quoted you as saying: “It was good for me. You know, being the son of somebody, it could have been competition to me. This way, I got Manhattan all to myself.”
Your dad was building a business. But, more importantly, he was building a son—you. It is a lesson that he learned from his mother, who started the company initially but eventually turned it over to your dad. She was building a business. But more importantly, she was also building a son.
You know where I’m going with this. You have three children who work with you in the business. Each needs the sunshine to grow that will only shine on them to the extent that they are outside of your shadow. It is a Trump generational duty started by Grandma Trump. She did it. Your dad did it. Now, it’s your turn to do it.
You’ve built a business. It’s time to turn that business over to your children—to succeed or fail.
Do it for your kids—and also for us.
Sincerely,
David O. Leavitt
